Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys > SAFETY

Heavy metals from carving

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Kaljaia:
Saw this article today: https://torontolife.com/city/life/my-beautiful-death/
Thought the warning about carving materials with unknown heavy metal concentrations might have application to the lapidary community as well. I know shells, like bone and rock, are one of those things you don't ever want to breathe dust from but I'm not sure if a standard dust mask would have helped in her case. Regardless of how a toxin got to where it is, probably not a good idea to ingest or inhale it! Toxic art supplies are nothing new, but I can see how someone might not suspect seashells for heavy metal concentration.

lithicbeads:
Animals and plants use heavy metal concentrations in their war against predators.  Tree bark is a prime example as it is loaded with human  -insect poisons. Remarkably tee bark from  saw mills has long been used in a chipped fermented  " soup " form to feed beef cows .It was just a few years ago that this practice was stopped.

55fossil:
   The first post is dead on. Best to just be over cautious but not crazy.  As for tree bark;  some is good, others are bad.  Aspirin comes to mind.  But I think I would prefer grass fed beef.

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